Expression of Ep‐CAM, but not of E48, associates with nodal involvement in advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. Issue 6 (12th April 2013) - Romeu, Coia
Abstract Aims To evaluate epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep‐CAM) and E48 expression, and their relationship with histological differentiation and nodal metastasis, in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Methods and results The expression of Ep‐CAM and E48 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in a series of 66 SCC (stages 3 and 4) and their adjacent non‐neoplastic epithelia. Ep‐CAM expression increased with the progression from normal squamous epithelium to SCC. It was detected in 96% of carcinomas and high levels of Ep‐CAM expression (50% or more positive cells) were associated with poorer differentiation (P = 0.003) and the presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.001). E48 expression was characteristically strong and diffuse in non‐neoplastic squamous epithelium, and decreased with progression to SCC. Poorly differentiated (grade 4) tumours had lower proportions of E48‐positive cells than well‐ to moderately‐ differentiated cases (P < 0.001). Conclusions Expression of both Ep‐CAM and E48 correlated with cell differentiation, although in inverse fashion. In particular, the association between high levels of Ep‐CAM expression and high frequency of nodal metastases suggests that Ep‐CAM plays a role in the development of lymph node metastases in SCC of the larynx.